8 Incredible Irish Castles

With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, we’re taking a journey to some of Ireland’s most breathtaking historic castles, courtesy of our friends at Travel Channel.

Built in the 16th century, Doe Castle in County Donegal is surrounded by water on three sides, creating the illusion of a floating fortress. Its high outer walls and four major defense towers surround an interior building with a four-story tower and keep. See More of Ireland's Best Castles on TravelChannel.com >>

On Monday, March 17, people around the world will embrace Irish culture for St. Patrick’s Day. Naturally, our friends at DIY Network’s Made + Remade are already making Irish soda bread and curing corned beef, while HGTV’s Design Happens bloggers are shaking up festive green cocktails. Here at Cool Houses Daily, we’re taking an architectural tour of Ireland to get in the spirit of St. Paddy’s Day, checking out some of the country’s most impressive historic castles.

With the help of our sister site, TravelChannel.com, we’ve rounded up some of Ireland’s most stunning and fascinating fortresses. There’s even one castle where St. Patrick himself is said to have converted the king of Munster in the 5th century A.D. See our picks in the gallery below, plus get tips from TravelChannel.com for visiting these historic spots in person.